#but its just adding to the climate problem

[dog-ending]

ugh im gonna kill every last person who opposes fixing the fucking climate this fucking sucks

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The far right grows through “disaster fantasies”

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/25/mall-ninja-prophecy/#mano-a-mano">https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/25/mall-ninja-prophecy/#mano-a-mano

The core of the prepper fantasy: "What if the world ended in the precise way that made me the most important person?" The ultra-rich fantasize about emerging from luxury bunkers with an army of mercs and thumbdrives full of bitcoin to a world in ruins that they restructure using their "leadership skills."

The ethnographer Rich Miller spent his career embedding with preppers, eventually writing the canonical book of the fantasies that power their obsessions, Dancing at Armageddon: Survivalism and Chaos in Modern Times:

https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo3637295.html

Miller recounts how the disasters that preppers prepare for are the disasters that will call upon their skills, like the water chemist who's devoted his life to preparing to help his community recover from a terrorist attack on its water supply; and who, when pressed, has no theory as to why any terrorist would stage such an attack:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/22/preppers-are-larpers/#preppers-unprepared

Prepping is what happens when you are consumed by the fantasy of a terrible omnicrisis that you can solve, personally. It's an individualistic fantasy, and that makes it inherently neoliberal. Neoliberalism's mind-zap is to convince us all that our only role in society is as an individual ("There is no such thing as society" – M. Thatcher). If we have a workplace problem, we must bargain with our bosses, and if we lose, our choices are to quit or eat shit. Under no circumstances should we solve labor disputes through a union, especially not one that wins strong legal protections for workers and then holds the government's feet to the fire.

Same with bad corporate conduct: getting ripped off? Caveat emptor! Vote with your wallet and take your business elsewhere. Elections are slow and politics are boring. But "vote with your wallet" turns retail therapy into a form of civics.

This individualistic approach to problem solving does useful work for powerful people, because it keeps the rest of us thoroughly powerless. Voting with your wallet is casting a ballot in a rigged election that's always won by the people with the thickest wallets, and statistically, that's never you. That's why the right is so obsessed with removing barriers to election spending: the wealthy can't win a one-person/one-vote election (to be in the 1% is to be outnumbered 99:1), but unlimited campaign spending lets the wealthy vote in real elections using their wallets, not just just ballots.

You can't recycle your way out of the climate emergency. Practically speaking, you can't even recycle. All those plastics you lovingly washed and sorted ended up in a landfill or floating in the ocean. Plastics recycling is a hoax perpetrated by the petrochemical industry, who knew all along that their products would never be recycled. These despoilers convinced us to view the systemic rot of corporate ecocide as an individual matter, chiding us about "littering" and exhorting us to sort our garbage:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/14/they-knew/#doing-it-again

We are bombarded by real problems that require urgent solutions that can only be resolved through collective action, which we are told is impossible. This is an objectively frightening state of affairs, and it makes people go nuts.

At the start of this century, in the weeks before 9/11, a message-board poster calling himself Gecko45 went Web 1.0 viral by earnestly bullshitting about his job as a mall security guard, doing battle with heavily armed gangs, human traffickers, and ravening monsters. Gecko45's posts were unhinged: he started out seeking advice for doubling up on body-armor to protect him while he deployed his smoke bombs and his partner assembled a high-powered rifle. Though Gecko45 was apparently sincere, he drew tongue-in-cheek replies from the other posters on GlockTalk, who soon dubbed him the "Mall Ninja":

https://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/

The Mall Ninja professed to patrolling a suburban shopping mall while armed with 15 firearms as he carried out his duties as "Sergeant of a three-man Rapid Tactical Force at one of America’s largest indoor retail shopping areas." His qualifications? Mastery "of three martial arts including ninjitsu, which means I can wear the special boots to climb walls."

The Mall Ninja's fantasy of a single brave individual, defending the sleepy populace from violent, armed mobs is instantly recognizable as an ancestor to today's right wing fantasy of America's cities as "no-go zones" filled with "open air drug markets," patrolled by MS-13 and antifa super-soldiers. And while the Mall Ninja drew derision – even from the kinds of people who hang out on a message board called "GlockTalk" – today, his brand of fantasy wins elections.

On Jacobin, Olly Haynes interviews the political writer Richard Seymour about this phenomenon:

https://jacobin.com/2024/11/disaster-nationalism-fantasies-far-right/

Seymour's latest book is Disaster Nationalism:The Downfall of Liberal Civilization, an exploration of the strange obsessions of the right with imaginary disasters in the midst of real ones:

https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3147-disaster-nationalism

You know these imaginary disasters: "FEMA death camps, 'great replacement theory,' the 'Great Reset,' fifteen-minute cities, 5G towers being beacons of mind control, and microchips installed in people through vaccines." As Seymour writes, these conspiracy fantasies are proliferated by authoritarian regimes and their supporters, especially as real disasters rage around them.

For example, during the Oregon wildfires, people who were threatened by blazing forests that hit 800'C refused to evacuate because they'd been convinced that the fires were set by antifa arsonists in a bid to "wipe out white conservative Christians." They barricaded themselves in their fire-threatened homes, brandishing guns and prepping for the antifa mob.

Seymour says that this "disaster nationalism" "processes disaster in a way that is actually quite enlivening." Confronted with the helplessness of a real disaster that can only be solved through the collective action you've been told is both impossible and a Communist plot, you retreat to an individualistic disaster fantasy that you can play an outsized role in. Every crisis – the climate emergency, poverty, a toxic environment – is replaced by "bad people" and you can go get them.

For authoritarian politicians, a world of bad people at the gates who can only be stopped by "the good guys" makes for great politics. It impels proto-fascist movements to electoral victories, all over the world: in the US, of course, but Seymour also analyzes this as the phenomenon behind the electoral victories of authoritarian ethno-nationalists in India, Israel, Brazil, and all over the world.

I find Seymour's analysis bracing and clarifying. It explains the right's tendency to obsess over the imaginary at the expense of the real. Think of conservatives' obsession with imaginary and hypothetical children, from Qanon's child trafficking conspiracies to the forced birth movement's fixation on "the unborn."

It's not just that these kids don't exist – it's that the right is either indifferent or actively hostile to real children. Qanon peaked at the same time as Trump's "kids in cages" family separation policy, which saw thousands of kids separated from their parents, many forever, as a deliberate policy.

The forced birth movement spent decades fighting to overturn Roe in the name of saving "the unborn" – even as its leaders were also overturning the Child Tax Credit, the most successful child poverty alleviation measure in American history. Actual children were left to sink into food insecurity and precarity, to be enlisted to work overnight shifts in meat-packing plants, to fall into homelessness – even as the movement celebrated the "culture of life" that would rescue hypothetical children.

Lifting kids out of poverty and building a world where parents can afford to raise as many children as they care to have is a collective endeavor. Firebombing abortion clinics or storming into a pizza parlor with an assault rifle is an individual rescue fantasy that escapes into the world.

Mall Ninja politics are winning.

[windows98-fr]

I full heartedly disagree that “having a big and shiny lair” is an “end goal” of FR, but never mind that FR has a TON of “hard things to do” already. We have the coli, beastiary, apparel, baldwin, gathering, hib den quests, saving and grinding for genes/items PLUS we literally already have lair expansions for that. Those are all already “hard things to do” without the added effort of simply finding food that you can “safely” convert to feed your dragons, whos energy is *continuously* degenerating. Upkeep, in my opinion, shouldnt be a “hard thing”. Because, presumably, devs WANT you to keep playing the game.

it has been 1240 days since new food items were last added to gathering

[robertreich]

5 Crises Republicans Made up to Distract You

Here are five totally made-up “crises” Republicans have invented to distract from the real crises facing Americans today: the growing concentration of wealth, the worsening climate crisis, and the undermining of our democracy.

Fake crisis #1:  Anything they claim is “woke.”

Although Republicans struggle to define what “woke” even means, they’re constantly using it as a weapon to combat anything that seeks to foster tolerance and acceptance.

Pride flags? Woke!

Books about Rosa Parks? Woke!

Green M&M’s? The wokest!

Fortunately, most Americans think being informed and aware of social injustice…which is what being “woke” really means... is a good thing.

Fake crisis #2: The panic over trans people.

Trans people just want the right to exist safely as their true selves, like everyone else. And despite the lies spewed by some Republicans, there’s not a shred of evidence that they are a threat to anyone. But they’ve become easy scapegoats for the GOP, who vilify them and threaten to criminalize their very existence.

Fake crisis #3: Critical race theory

In reality, critical race theory is mostly taught in universities — like quantum physics or philosophy. It's really not taught in K-12, nor is it dangerous.

It’s merely a framework to understand the role that race and racism have played in shaping America’s laws and institutions. But Republicans have deliberately turned this obscure academic phrase into a weapon to silence any discussion of race they don't like.

Unfortunately, this includes teaching many basic historical facts.

Fake crisis #4: “Couch potatoes.”

Republicans are whipping up anger over welfare recipients supposedly abusing the system.

The reality is most people who collect benefits already hold jobs and work exceedingly hard.

Like Ronald Reagan’s claim about so-called “welfare queens”, the “couch potato” myth is a cruel racial dog whistle. In fact, the vast majority of Americans who receive government benefits are white.

We should be asking why so many jobs pay such low wages that workers need government help to get by?

Fake crisis #5: “Out of control government spending.”

Another lie. Apart from mandatory spending like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, government spending has actually fallen more than 30% in the past 50 years as a percentage of our total economy.

[9.6% in 1973  vs. 6.6% in 2022, a decrease of  31.25%]

Yes, the national debt is a problem, but in recent years, among its biggest drivers have been the Bush and Trump tax cuts, which have added nearly $10 trillion to the debt since their enactment.

All five of these so-called crises have been manufactured by the GOP. They’re entirely made up.

Why? To deflect attention from the near record share of the nation’s income and wealth now going to the richest Americans.

As the wealthy pour money into politics — largely into the GOP — they don’t want the rest of America to notice they’re rigging the economy for their own benefit, that their greed is worsening the climate crisis, and they’re undermining our democracy.

So the game of the Republican Party and their major donors is to deflect attention — to use fake crises to disguise what’s really going on.

Don’t let them get away with it.

[zooophagous]

It was colder here than it ever was in Germany. At least as it ever was in the time Strauss had lived there, and he had a very, very lengthy memory. He had a very short memory when it came to modern amenities such as automobiles and their climate control systems, but nonetheless he was already very impatient with the few cold minutes it took for the heat to permeate the van and make it tolerable to be outside.

He huffed in his seat with his hands stuffed into his armpits, as if that would help- his own body nigh incapable of generating its own heat anymore. But reflexes do not die even when their host does. He swore that as he huffed, he saw his breath linger in the air as steam, as if the bitter chill of the air around him was even colder than the chill of the dead.

“Van Helsing. How many stops are on our list?”

“Just four. Those were the four people on the registry that haven’t checked in with their parole officers in a while. With any luck one of them is Sylvain’s blood bag.” Artemis mumbled in reply as she fought her seat belt with cold hands.

“And after that, we find a feed for me?”

“We’ll try to. Auntie is busy negotiating with a few clinics, but I can’t promise you anything Strauss. Blood is an expensive supply to get ahold of. I’m sorry.”

“Save your apologies. I only hope my mood remains agreeable until a solution is found.” He stared out the window with a sullen expression. His stomach was empty. Had been too, now, for some nights.

“Maybe if we find Sylvain’s blood bag we can convince them to donate to the cause as a token of appreciation for being freed from her.” Artemis rolled her eyes and set the van in motion slowly down the icy street in its back alley hiding place. “Not like they’d be a stranger to the notion.”

“Assuming we are correct and this mystery party even exists.” Strauss replied flatly. “I miss my mice. They were much more substantial than the ones in the safe house.”

“What mice? Strauss, have you been eating wild mice?”

“I am very curious what you think my alternative is. I am hungry, Van Helsing. Very, very hungry. If I did not sup on the mice I may be tempted to sup on you.”

Artemis sighed and rested her head on the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”

“That is really what you want to hear when your life is already crashing down around your ears, isn’t it? That your mate also wishes to maul you like a wild animal. No. My problems are my own. I did not need to further burden you by adding another to your pile.”

“Is it supposed to make me feel better to have my loved ones eating vermin?”

“Better the vermin than nothing at all. Better the vermin than you.”

Artemis paused and put the van back in park. “Is it?”

“Is what?”

“Is eating vermin better than eating from me? I mean, it’s hardly the first time I’ve bled for you.” She began to roll up her sleeve.

“You know very well that offering me your vein is a foolish, dangerous act.”

“Just because we don’t have sterile supplies doesn’t mean you have to latch directly on either. Just make a little cut and collect it in a cup or…”

“So now I am reduced to slicing you up, as if that is not harm?”

“It’s more harmful to me to see any more of my loved ones suffering.” She snapped. “I can’t fix auntie’s burnt leg. I can’t un-lose Troy. I can’t bring Gregor White back from the dead. But one thing I know I can do, Strauss. I can handle a damn vampire.”

She looked down at her arm with a silent, resolute resolve. “Just… a small cut right there by that big vein in the wrist. I can cover it with a bandage and a long sleeve. Auntie doesn’t have to know.”

Strauss looked wearily at her and down at her exposed hand and wrist. “Do not tempt me. Please. I am in no shape to resist.”

Even as he protested, he took her hand in his, eyeing the pale blue vein in her wrist with intensity. He rotated her hand in his till it faced upward in a supplicating gesture. With his free hand, he took the claw of his pointer finger and traced the line of her veins. Artemis braced herself and looked away. Gently, with all the care of a surgeon, Strauss drew his claw and gradually increased pressure until the sharp appendage split the skin.

Artemis let out a soft grunt of discomfort, but soon steadied herself by focusing on deep, metered breathing. The cut had been made, that was the hard part. Strauss pushed hard against her skin with his thumbs, bidding a bead of dark blood to rise to the surface and begin to run down her arm and into her palm, where it began to pool.

He took her hand to his lips and raked his cold tongue across it. It made her stomach twitch. She tried very hard not to gag. It was hardly the most intimate place that tongue had been. But this was different. Somehow more wrong, even if born out of necessity.

Strauss was shaking slightly as he took his feed. Mainly under the herculean effort not to use his teeth on her. He wanted to. Desperately. One had to focus though, on needs, and as in the past, focus on never taking more than those needs required. He had never demanded much from her, in feeds past. He would demand even less from her now.

He licked her hand clean, and then up her wrist to the point of entry, pressing his lips to it in a greedy kiss that sucked a few more precious drops from her. He paused to lick his lips, then stopped, stock still, staring at the wound he’d created.

“Don’t tell me you’re about to flip out and eat me.” Artemis chided sarcastically.

“Van Helsing. When you chased me, before, that time I had escaped into the wild and ran amok- how was it again that you came to find me?”

“It was Troy’s idea, actually. He knew you had a very particular safe food and that you’d be looking for it. Why?”

Strauss sat up in his seat and rolled his head back to stare at the van’s ceiling. He draped his claw over his face in exasperation. “God dammit. Van Helsing. I have been so incredibly stupid.”

“Can you be more specific?” She asked, shoving a napkin from the glove box against her cut to staunch the flow.

“Troy is a vegan. Troy does not cook. There are very few vegan restaurants in this city. If Troy lives, one of those restaurants has seen him.”

“Wait- you think he’s in town?”

“Why not? He has made it no secret that he harbors no love for the lycan lifestyle. I have no reason to believe he has changed his mind now. I remember he enjoys that curry from the Nepalese restaurant. It is nearby. We should try there first, yes?”

“Well, shit.” Artemis mumbled, apparently impressed. “You sound more sure about this than I do about any of our other leads. It’s not a bad place to look. Let’s go.”

“Yes. If this works he will no doubt be quite impressed. I got him back with his own trick.” Strauss sounded almost excited, the fresh feed had invigorated him. “I cannot wait to rub his nose in it.”

“Here’s hoping you get to.” The van was off once again, heading a different direction.

[kodtheshiftinggodd]

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪MY MAIN REALITIES ִֶָ☾.

— ALT REALITY .ᐟ

i haven’t decided if i’ll be permashifting or respawning here yet. i won’t delve too much into this one as it’s just this reality with some tweaks. tbh, i have no problem with this reality other than my boyfriends mental health, the political climate, and just how shitty society is as whole.

my boyfriend definitely makes this reality so much better and i’m the happiest i’ve ever been/best mentally. but he does struggle with severe depression so idk. i won’t get into my personal fears. we both are gonna shift so he can be happier <3

the extra tweaks are just i added my dr friend group that’s in every reality, better financially, better political world, & i get to learn how to tattoo i live in a very small town & there’s nowhere for me to apprentice so yeah. that’s the jist for this reality. still haven’t decided if i’ll be permashifting or completely respawning there so <3 yep.

— AOT ALT REALITY .ᐟ

okay! so this one is just i am learning how to tattoo ( yes again ) except I moved to Oregon dream location to be Levi Ackerman’s apprentice. Oh, and for sure date Jean Kirstein. My usual friend group is scripted per usual & i added two of my shifting friends from this reality. My friend Hady has her own little coffee shop that I help out at. there’s also a mix of singing & content creation stuff in this as well minus the big crazy fame because i don’t wanna be recognized all the time. nothing too crazy in this one, pretty similar to my ALT REALITY…

— FANTASY REALITY .ᐟ

okay so this will literally be getting its own post because it’s so extensive. i usually refer to it as my VALERIAN REALITY as the place i live in is called Valeria yes i stole that from game of thrones, its a pretty name okay and i basically made it my OP/main character reality. to sum things up, i am the secret heir to the throne of Valeria, but i dont know it. i didnt script much to this, i want to be surprised on how i find out and all that. AOT is obvi scripted in, Paradis Island is where they live. uhhh I just didn’t script in the dumb dumb no brain titans that eat people and like- they know about other countries. the rumbling also never happens. the Marleyan Empire does exist but yeah no rumbling.

i didn’t script much for the lore of this but just based off like dr memories, readings, and dreams… Eldia and Valeria have this weird/cool connection that could bring on the “golden age of peace” so yes. once i become Queen i will ally with Eldia and after a good enemies to lovers with Jean, he will be King of Valeria. there’s a lot of memories and stories from this dr that i will make a whole separate post on <3 i am definitely like crazy connected to this dr already and so excited to shift here.

happy shifting <3

[kayas-kosmos]

Solarpunk Colossus.

When the ancient ones awaken to help out humanity with their climate problem.

This was a piece I've been wanting to do for ages and @stimpunks helped me make this a reality! So thank you so much for this commission! All of my neurospicy friends should definitely check out Stimpunks and give them a follow!

I just wanted an excuse to blend Solarpunk with fantasy art really.

The idea is that an environmental research facility was unwittingly built upon the back of a sleeping earth colossus due to the unique flora and fauna of the area, only for the colossus to suddenly awaken. The behemoth made an agreement with the scientists that they may stay on its back, but only on the condition that they treat the isolated ecosystem with respect and that their research will help heal nature and bring about a world where humans and nature live in harmony again.

The research facility itself is constructed from entirely sustainable materials and is a blend of iron-age and modern architecture. The scientists must stick to strict limestone paths so not to erode any of the earthy areas. Some locations cannot be accessed by foot and are therefore drone-only. The entire facility is powered by those airborne turbines (I probably added more than there needed to be but they look pretty haha).

Here's some concept art for the colossus. I made him a lot less grumpy in the final piece. He has six legs on account of him being extremely front-heavy and he has little tiptoeing ungulate feet. I also worked a lot of fossil motifs into his design, plus I imagine the wooden structures that make his antlers are so ancient that they have started to petrify. I want this creature to feel truly ancient. His face is also inspired by "the green man" a little bit.

The scientists have nicknamed this colossus "The Wean" (Wee one) on account of him living off the coast of Scotland.

Oh and before anyone asks... yes, this was at least a little bit inspired by "Shadow of the Colossus." I'm not going to hide my influences ^^'

If you want to see more Solarpunk or fantasy art from me, please consider donating a Ko-Fi! Even a small amount really helps, especially with how difficult things are for artists right now.

[mariacallous]

On Tuesday morning, five days after Hurricane Helene ripped through Boone, North Carolina, David Marlett was on his way to the campus of Appalachian State University. The managing director of the university’s Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, Marlett was planning to spend the day working with his colleagues to help students and community members understand their insurance policies and file claims in the wake of the storm. He didn’t sound hopeful. “I’m dreading it,” he said. “So many people are just not going to have coverage.”

Helene made landfall southeast of Tallahassee, Florida, last week with winds up to 140 miles per hour, downing trees and bringing record-breaking storm surges to areas along the Gulf Coast before charging up through Georgia. But perhaps its most shocking impacts have been on inland North Carolina, where it first started raining while the storm was still over Mexico. At least 57 people are dead in Buncombe County in the west of the state alone. Communities like Boone received dozens of inches of rainfall despite being hundreds of miles from the coast. Waters rose in main streets, sinkholes and mudslides wreaked havoc, and major roads were blocked, flooded, or degraded by the storm.

Now, there’s a good chance that many homeowners in North Carolina won’t see any payouts from their insurance companies—even if they have policies they thought were comprehensive.

“The property insurance market for homes was already a patchwork system that really doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Marlett says. “Now you’re adding in the last couple of years of economic uncertainty, inflation, climate change, population migration—it’s just an unbelievably bad combination happening all at once.”

For North Carolinians, the issue right now has to do with what, exactly, private insurance is on the hook for when it comes to a storm. An average homeowner policy covers damage from wind, but private homeowners’ insurance plans in the US do not cover flooding. Instead, homeowners in areas at risk of flooding usually purchase plans from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The way a hurricane wreaks havoc on a state is a crucial deciding factor for insurers’ wallets. Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida as a category 4 storm with some of the highest wind speeds on record, caused $63 billion in private insurance claims. In contrast, the bulk of the $17 billion in damage caused by 2018’s Hurricane Florence, which tore up the North Carolina coast, was water damage, not wind; as a result, private insurers largely avoided picking up the check for that disaster.

This breakout of flood insurance from home policies dates back to the 1940s, says Donald Hornstein, a law professor at the University of North Carolina and a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. Private insurance companies decided that they did not have enough data to be able to accurately predict flooding and therefore could not insure it. “In some ways, that calculation of 50 years ago is still the calculation insurers make today,” he says.

While the NFIP, which was created in the late 1960s, provides virtually the only backup against flood damage, the program is saddled with debt and has become a political hot potato. (Project 2025, for instance, recommends phasing out the program entirely and replacing it with private options.) Part of the problem with the NFIP is low uptake. Across the country, FEMA statistics show that just 4 percent of homeowners have flood insurance. Some areas hit by Helene in Appalachia, initial statistics show, have less than 2.5 percent of homeowners signed up for the federal program.

“Even in coastal areas, not many people buy that, much less here in the mountains,” Marlett says. “People have never seemed to fully understand that flood is a separate policy.”

Flooding is not unprecedented in the mountains of North Carolina: Hurricane Ivan swept through Appalachia in 2004, and flash floods from rivers are not unheard of. Purchasing flood insurance is mandatory with a government-backed mortgage in some areas of the country, based on flood zones set by FEMA. But the data is based on extremely outdated floodplain maps that have not taken the most recent climate science on record rainfall into account.

“The biggest non-secret in Washington for decades is how hopelessly out of date these flood maps are,” Hornstein says.

Even if water wasn’t the cause of destruction for some homeowners in North Carolina, the storm’s disastrous mudslides—another risk supercharged by climate change—may not be covered either. Many home insurance policies have carve-outs for what are known as “earth movements,” which includes landslides, sinkholes, and earthquakes. In some states, like California, insurers are mandated to offer additional earthquake insurance, and homeowners can purchase private additional policies that cover earth movements. But in a state like North Carolina, where earthquake risk is extremely low, homeowners may not even know that such policies exist.

It’s also been a tough few years for the insurance industry across the country. A New York Times analysis from May showed that homeowners’ insurers lost money in 18 states in 2023—up from eight states in 2013—largely thanks to expensive disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. Payouts are increasingly costing insurers more than they are getting in premiums. Homeowners are seeing their policies jump as a result: According to statistics compiled by insurance comparison shopping site Insurify, the average annual cost of home insurance climbed nearly 20 percent between 2021 and 2023. In Florida, which has the highest insurance costs in the country, the average homeowner paid over $10,000 a year in 2023—more than $8,600 above the national rate.

Florida has made headlines in recent months as ground zero for the climate-change insurance crisis. More than 30 insurance companies have either fully or partially pulled out of Florida over the past few years, including big names like Farmers’ and AAA, after mounting losses from repeated major hurricanes like 2022’s Ian, the most expensive natural disaster in the state’s history. Florida’s insurer of last resort, now saddled with risk from multiple homeowners, has proposed a rate increase of 14 percent, set to go into effect next year.

In comparison, North Carolina’s insurance market looks pretty good. No insurers have exited the state since 2008, while homeowners pay an average of $2,100 per year—high, but avoiding the sky-high rates of states like Florida, California, and Texas.

“What traditionally has happened is that there’s a rate increase every few years of 8 to 9 percent for homeowner’s insurance,” says Hornstein. “That has kept the market stable, especially when it comes to the coast.”

But as natural disasters of all kinds mount, it’s tough to see a way forward for insurance business as usual. The NFIP is undergoing a series of changes to update the way it calculates rates for flood insurance—but it faces political minefields in potentially expanding the number of homeowners mandated to buy policies. What’s more, many homeowners are seeing the prices for their flood insurance rise as the NFIP adjusts its rates for existing floodplains using new climate models.

Many experts agree that the private market needs to reflect in some way the true cost of living in a disaster-prone area: in other words, it should be more expensive for people to move to a city where it’s more likely your house will be wiped off the map by a storm. The cost of climate change does not seem to be a deterrent in Florida, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, where coastal regions like Panama City, Jacksonville, and Port St. Lucie are booming. (Some research suggests that the mere existence of the NFIP shielded policyholders from the true costs of living in flood-prone areas.)

Asheville, at the heart of Buncombe County, was once hailed as a climate haven safe from disasters; the city is now reeling in the wake of Helene. For many homeowners, small business owners, and renters in western North Carolina, the damage from Helene will be life-changing. FEMA payouts may bring, at best, only a fraction of what a home would be worth. Auto insurance generally covers all types of damage, including flooding—a small bright spot of relief, but not enough to offset the loss of a family’s main asset.

“People at the coast, at some point after the nth storm, they start to get the message,” Hornstein says. “But for people in the western part of the state, this is just Armageddon. And you can certainly forgive them for not having before appreciated the fine points of these impenetrable contracts.”

Marlett says that there are models for insurance that are designed to better withstand the challenges of climate change. New Zealand, for instance, offers policies that cover all types of damage that could happen to your house; while these policies are increasingly tailored price-wise to different types of risk, there’s no chance a homeowner would experience a climate disaster not covered by their existing policies. But it’s hard, he says, to see the US system getting the wholesale overhaul it needs, given how long the piecemeal system has been in place.

“I sound so pessimistic,” he said. “I’m normally an optimistic person.”

[theblackdahliaemporium]

Medicinal Remedies

Medicinal Remedies-- This is a LONG one!

NOTE: This article is about 20 of my favorite medicinal healing herbs to grow in most garden areas and types of soil. There are 100’s more, though, that I just couldn’t include because of space. Enjoy this rundown of 20 of my favorites.

1) Calendula:

Calendula is one of my top five favorite herbs of all time. It's sunny yellow or orange face can't help but make me smile. In summer time, it grows like crazy, just about anywhere, and like other flowers, the bees love it.

Calendula has some super skin healing and strengthening properties, and I always have some infusing in olive oil in a sunny window for use in salves, soaps, and other body products.

Calendula is also edible, and it's so fun to toss some blooms in your salad! It really brightens things up and adds excellent color. I love Calendula.

Calendula just makes you smile.

2) Cayenne:

Here is another herb I think should be in every garden. Cayenne is a very hot and pretty red pepper with some excellent culinary uses for adding spice to foods.

It's also great for helping with circulatory problems, can be used to help stop bleeding since it's a hemostatic herb, and has been shown to be useful in helping slow or even stop a heart attack until help can arrive.

It's also a very attractive plant, and the bright red of the pepper is just gorgeous mixed Into the dark green of the plant's leaves. This is one herb you should definitely grow if you can, and have handy in your herbal medicine chest.

Cayenne grows like crazy, especially in warmer climates. They dry well, too.

3) Chamomile:

Like Lavender, what would an herbal garden be without sweet Chamomile? It's honey scent and sweet taste are an absolute pleasure. Besides that....Chamomile is a popular relaxant and mild sedative herb.

Need to de-stress? Drink a bit of Chamomile tea!

Chamomile is also useful as an anti-inflammatory, as it contains high levels of azulene. It helps with pain relief, including for arthritis. If you are heading to bed and are bothered by mild pain, try drinking some chamomile tea! In one clinical study, this helped 10 out of 12 people fall into a restful sleep. (Gladstar)

Growing Chamomile can be tricky in very hot climates. It likes full sun, but a cooler climate. Chamomile is also best grown in less maintained soil and doesn't need the rich fertilization other plants require.

4) Chickweed:

Chickweed is another one of those "weeds" that is completely misunderstood and has some excellent medicinal qualities.

It's Latin name, (stellaria) means "star," and that is because of its small, pretty starlike white flowers. It's easy to grow, and has many uses.

Chickweed supports liver and kidney health due to its high nutrition and diuretic properties. It's also wonderful in salves for healing skin issues, including rashes, eczema, and very dry skin.

Chickweed is a great diuretic and blood purifier.

5) Dandelion:

This prolific weed, as some people see when they notice Dandelion in their yard, is actually a powerfully helpful medicinal herb! Dandelion is terrific for your liver and kidney health, having diuretic properties.

It's also an edible plant! You can roast the roots and add it to teas and even your coffee for a delicious flavor that also packs a healthy punch. The leaves can be eaten in salads and other foods.

6) Feverfew:

Feverfew has lovely white flowers and at least where I live, is rather invasive. I don't mind, though, because it has a great number of medicinal benefits.

As its name connotes, feverfew is helpful with reducing fevers. Most recently, however, feverfew has become rather well-known for helping with migraines, both preventing and reducing the intensity and time.

One of my favorite teas to provide for people who suffer from migraines is: 1 part feverfew, 1 part spearmint, and 1 part lemon balm. This is a soothing, nervine combination, that along with the powers of feverfew, can be used as daily tonic.

Feverfew is also great for minor bug bites. Just apply the tincture topically. Since it has mild pain relieving properties, it will help with the discomfort too.

7) Garlic:

Garlic is one of the BEST all around medicinal herbs anyone can grow, in my opinion. It's useful for treating colds, flus, sore throats, and digestive issues. Garlic boosts the immune system by increasing and stimulating the production of white blood cells.

Garlic is antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and vermifuge (kills parasites). It is also useful as a blood purifier and helps promote healthy circulation. It may also help regulate blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes.

Besides all these wonderful benefits, garlic is delicious! It's added to so many foods and dishes because of the flavor it imparts. Granted, using garlic medicinally is different than in culinary uses, but if you really want to "eat thy medicine," as Hippocrates famously stated, garlic is a great place to start.

8) Ginger:

Oh, what would the herb world be without Ginger? This sweet and spicy pungent herb is actually a rhizome, not a root, as many believe. The useful part grows under ground, so is often confused.

Ginger is stimulating and is a great additive for teas, tinctures, and fermented foods, as well as culinary uses. Ginger is anti-inflammatory, decongesting, and increases circulation, promoting warmth. Ginger is also excellent for flatulence and stomach issues, including nausea.

Ginger likes a tropical environment---hot and humid. Therefore, unless you live down South, Ginger would most likely need to be grown in a green house.

9) Lavender:

What would the herbal world be without lavender? It's good for SO many things. Lavender smells wonderful, the bees love it, it's great for medicinal uses, AND it's a gorgeous flower. Lavender is useful for air freshening and cleaning the air or freshening closed up places such as drawers. It's popular in sachets for this reason.

Lavender is actually relatively hardy, growing well in Zones 5 through 8. If you are in a colder zone, be sure to plant your lavender in an area where it will get plenty of sunshine and be as warm as possible. If your winters are rough, you'll need to provide your lavender with some type of protection, especially from harsh winds.

I had some planted in pots here in the mountains, and it did very well all summer long. Even through snows, it was fine. But we get wind speeds over 125 miles an hour at times, and lavender just didn't last through that. Not much will, I guess.

Lavender is useful for so many things---AND it smells incredible.

10) Lemon Balm:

Lemon Balm....I LOVE this species of mint. It smells lovely, the bees love it, and it grows well nearly everywhere. Lemon Balm has a pleasant lemony taste and is a great additive in herbal teas, both for the nutritive value as well as the soothing nature and relaxing effects it has on the body.

11) Marshmallow:

This probably isn't included in too many herbalist's garden lists, but I think Marshmallow is seriously necessary. It's a demulcent and soothing herb, and it complements "hotter" herbs very well. It also soothes inflammation in mucous membranes and is one of my favorite herbs to use for allergy blends or teas for any kind of inflammation in the body for this reason.

Marshmallow is an upright plant, similar to a very small hollyhock. In fact, if you can grow hollyhocks where you are---you can use it pretty much interchangeably with Marshmallow as their chemical constituents are very similar.

The flowers are light pink and very pretty, too. The entire plant is edible and useful for medicinal purposes. Go ahead and throw a few flowers into your salad for a beautiful and surprising presentation!

Marshmallow is a demulcent anti-inflammatory. Plus, it's pretty.

12) Mullein:

This is yet another plant many see as just a weed, but has some truly wonderful medicinal qualities. Mullein is a plant that grows from a rosette of fuzzy large leaves into a tall stalk (sometimes as high as 7 feet tall) and is covered with yellow flowers in mid-summer.

Mullein does best in full sun, with lots of water, in cooler areas. It grows really well in the creek beds up here in our mountains, but I've heard it is very common in almost all places. It's worth trying to cultivate, in my opinion, if you don't have it growing naturally in your area.

Mullein is one of the best herbs you can use to support and heal the respiratory system and illnesses that affect the lungs, sinuses, and breathing. It's useful as a tea, tincture, and the large leaves can be used in an emergency to cover a poultice.

In my opinion, Mullein is the premier herb for respiratory issues.

13) Oregano

Oregano seems to be the bane of many gardener's existence. They plant it, and it just goes crazy. I can't tell you how many neighbors, family members, and friends have given me Oregano from their yards over the years! And I'm glad to have it! The thing with Oregano is you have to know how to manage it.

Oregano is a fabulous culinary herb, and if you have ever had pizza or marinara sauce, then you've tasted this delicious Mediterranean herb. Oregano grows best in warm, dry climates, but I have found in my experience that it is quite hardy and can survive winter lows in the single digits (at least it does in my yard).

Oregano (also known as Mountain of Joy in Greek) has some excellent medicinal uses, including having anti-viral, anti-biotic, anti-fungal properties, as well as being very high in anti-oxidants. It's a great skin care herb and also a digestive aid.

Oregano can be used in many forms, too: As a tincture, an herbal infused oil, eaten in foods, and as an essential oil. These all have different strengths, potencies, and uses.

The tincture is an easy way to use the herb medicinally, along with making or using in an herbal tea.

14) Peppermint:

Super easy to grow just about anywhere, Peppermint is a spreading perennial that has the propensity to take over your garden if you allow it! It's spicy, pungent scent is well known to just about everyone, since it's a popular culinary additive in many foods and candies.

Medicinally, Peppermint is useful for aiding digestion and getting rid of flatulence (gas). It has mild anti-spasmodic properties, so if you are experiencing cramps, especially digestive types or menstrual cramps, it can be very helpful.

15) Plantain:

Here is another weed that many people find repugnant, but that is actually an incredibly useful medicinal herb!

According to Rosemary Gladstar, Plantain grows everywhere, and if you invite it in, it will definitely show up.

Plantain is great for liver health, detoxifying and cleansing the blood, and drawing out toxins. I like to infuse it in oil for use in healing salves.

Like Dandelion, this easy to find weed is edible and useful.

16) Rosemary:

Rosemary is a famous culinary herb, and is great for use on red meats and very pungent dishes. Besides this, rosemary has been proven to be helpful for the brain, especially memory functions.

It's high in anti-oxidants, and has mild analgesic (pain relief) properties. Rosemary is a stimulant herb, and is helpful with circulation and low blood pressure. People with high blood pressure need to exercise caution using rosemary medicinally.

Rosemary grows best in hot, dry climates and is native to the Southern European countries.

Besides being a pungent and delicious culinary herb, rosemary provides medicinal qualities and enhances memory.

17) St. John's Wort:

St. John's Wort is a misunderstood plant, in my opinion. It went through a popular phase a few years ago and was touted as being the new natural anti-depressant. St. John's Wort can absolutely help with feelings of mild depression, sadness, grief, and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), but it's not a cure-all.

Important to know---St. John's Wort can interact with certain drugs, so be sure you discuss usage with your doctor (as you should with any of these herbs mentioned).

St. John's Wort is also great for neuralgia, and I personally use it as part of my back pain and sciatica regimen with excellent results. I also use it in a tincture form to lift my spirits if I'm feeling down.

Besides all the medicinal qualities of St. John's Wort, it's a really pretty plant. You won't be able to grow it in a super hot area, however, at least it's unlikely. I tried growing it in Las Vegas, and it was a total fail. However, it does well here in the mountains in full sun or partial shade and the cooler climate.

One of my favorite ways to prepare St. John's Wort is as an herbal infused oil. The medicinal species (H. perforatum) releases bright red juices into the oil, creating the most lovely infused oil.

Another safety note for the garden: St. John's Wort has been shown to have potential for phototoxicity, especially in grazing animals if they eat too much. Just be aware and watch what your pastured animals eat.

St. John's Wort is a wonderful healing herb that positively affects the emotions.

18) Thyme:

Thyme, in my opinion, is one of the best plants to use in your garden. It attracts bees, smells lovely, and is incredibly useful for medicinal purposes. It's a small, spreading herb (although some species will grow upright) that is fairly hardy, so if you have rough winters, it may do just fine---you'll be seeing it again in the Spring, with it's pretty scented purple flowers.

Many herbalists forget all about using thyme as a preventative medicinal herb or for helping heal quickly from colds and flus---but it has been shown to fight off colds.

It also has disinfectant properties, and can be used as an effective wash for skin infections or as great sore throat rinse. For medicinal purposes, Thymus vulgaris or Thymus citriodorus (Lemon Thyme) are the best to use.

19) Valerian:

This stately flowering plant can grow to about four feet tall and has lacy white flower clusters. Not only is it a lovely addition to your garden, but it is very useful. It's a strong but safe sedative and is very useful for helping with anxious feelings, sleep issues, and pain relief.

Contraindications: Valerian has the opposite effect on some people, so if you are using it for the first time, do so on a the eve of a day that won't affect you much. These folks are rare, but there are definitely some that don't tolerate it well.

One of nature's best gifts---Valerian is lovely and it is an excellent safe sedative.

20) Yarrow:

Yarrow has many tiny flowers that grow in bunches, and feathery grayish leaves. It's a very pretty plant for your garden. Besides, the parts that grow above ground (leaves, stems, flowers) have medicinal purposes and have been used for thousands of years.

Yarrow is a vulnerary, hemostatic herb. Besides helping with healing and clotting of wounds, yarrow is good for helping reduce fevers, hay fever, and fighting colds. As a fever reducer, it is important to note that yarrow induces sweating, so if the person already has a hot fever, yarrow is probably not the best choice to use.

Article: healing harvest homestead Picture: Nikolaydonetsk – photodune . net

[youwerenevermeanttofeelalone]

Tender | Damian Wayne

✦ pairing — older!Damian Wayne x female!Plus Size Reader with chronic fatigue

✦ word count— 3.6k

✦ summary— snippets of life with chronic fatigue while dating Damian.

✦ warnings— light angst, depictions of chronic illness/disability, mentions of food, nudity implied in a non-sexual context, mentions of meds and doctors, fluff.

✦ author's note— this fic was comissioned through donation.

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Rain hadn't made its appearance this month; worrisome for a city like Gotham where rain seemed to be a permanent fixture.

You couldn't remember a night without rain in the past three years, or such a hot morning for that matter. So this was a first in a long time, therefore you were somewhat unprepared.

It was your fault for not checking the weather app the night before and it was the climate's fault for not giving you a truce. Although if you were to go there, we all knew the actual people responsible for the changing climate — for most problems, to an extent.

You left the bed slowly, trying not to make noise. Damian was awake already, probably training, yet you didn't want him to know you were too.

His help was always welcomed, and treasured, and he gave it with joy and ease. You hadn't imagined he would be as thoughtful or patient — you knew him to be kind, definitely nicer than he pretended to be, but this was different.

He took it so seriously, too, consulting people whose actual job was to be caregivers had been his first move and you were a tad ashamed to admit it shocked you. A part of you had wanted him to do it, but you expected him to simply read a book and go from there. And read he did, but he didn't stop there; you didn't understand how at the time.

You understood why: he loved you. But the how was elusive with everything he had on his shoulders. It would have been so easy for him to simply pay somebody to take care of you and go on with his routine, but it seemed that the thought never crossed his mind.

Showers were a little easier now that you lived with him and got to use a bigger bathroom. You tried not to rely on the shower bench too much in the mornings, partially scared you would get sleepy too early.

Damian was back from training by the time you were about to choose a pair of shoes. His hair was damp and apart from his shoe-less feet, he was ready for work too.

"You should still take a jacket."

"I hate carrying things around."

He pinched his nose. "I will take it with me, then." At your questioning look, he added, "I will be picking you up from work today."

"You don't have to. Caroline likes driving me home."

Caroline was your favorite coworker and it wasn't just because she would eat lunch with you and drive you home from work. She was just pleasant to be around, never overbearing when it came to your symptoms, and the only one who kindly woke you up after your scheduled naps.

Damian sat next to you on the grey loveseat. He picked up the top you had decided against and folded it, something you had never been able to do without a surface. "I just want you to be ready for Friday."

"I am ready, Damian."

"Fine." He leaned to kiss the side of your head.

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You sometimes wondered if driving was really all that fulfilling. It seemed stressful from the passenger seat. Or maybe those were your nerves speaking.

Turns out you weren't ready for your medical appointment on Friday.

"Do you want me to go in there with you?"

"I think so."

You knew how lucky you were that you had a partner who was willing to do this, somebody who cleared his schedule for your comfort. Damian must have been aware that doctors took him more seriously than they did you, or that they only believed the things you said once he corroborated them or added more details.

He opened the door for you and offered his hand to help you out of the car. You took it without a second thought, not trusting yourself or the wonky pavement underneath.

Damian rested his hand on your lower back, steadying you as your wobbly legs carried you into the building.

Bouts of pain generally made their appearance when you had appointments. Out of stress, the doctor explained. It made sense, but along came drowsiness and you wished you could simply skip one appointment or two from time to time.

Of course you never said as much. It would be pointless, honestly; Damian would simply force the doctor to see you at home and the same stress, drowsiness, and overall tiredness would keep their chokehold on you.

You always spoke more when Damian was there, and when you struggled to remember something, he filled in the blanks. He carried your tracker with him, and the diary he had started on his own for good measure. The doctor always asked if he was taking care of himself too — you used to hate the question, seeing it as a reminder that you didn't really do a good job taking care of him in comparison to what he did for you; it took a long tearful conversation with Damian for you to understand he would always ask for attention if you weren't doing a good job at providing it.

"We have different needs," he had said in that incredibly infuriating yet attractive matter-of-fact tone of his.

The elevator traveled up smoothly, barely rattling when it landed on your floor. Damian let you out first and as quickly as you crossed the doors, his hand was already back on your body. It was almost a reflex of his, he did it even when you weren't in pain, a simple 'I'm here'.

You sighed in relief as you kicked your shoes off. As comfortable as they were, they were still restricting. Damian put the keys on the console table and before you could sit on the bench next to the table, he wrapped an arm around you and coaxed you into your shared bedroom.

The sheets had been changed that morning. The faint aroma of fabric softener lingered just enough to avoid a headache. Your sleeping clothes were neatly folded on the bench in front of the bed, with the basket Damian always kept full of snacks and where he hid notes for you to find.

His notes varied from encouraging words to doodles. with fragments of poems in between both extremes. You had taken the habit of texting short messages to him in return, sometimes silly things when you knew he would have a stressful day; other times reminders of how much loved him.

Your text chain would be incomprehensible for anybody but yourselves. You liked them. You liked that despite everything, you had that silly thing to laugh about, something mundane just for you and him.

Eyeing the clothes, you twisted your mouth. Your back was killing you. "Would you... help me?"

Damian dropped his cell phone onto the bedside table, still unlocked, white glare signaling he was in the middle of drafting an e-mail. "Hold onto something."

You did so, letting him take care of the rest. Not only did he take your pants off, which was the most painful part of getting changed this particular day, but guided your legs into a pair of cotton sleeping shorts one by one. You didn't even ask him help with your top yet Damian gently sat you on the bed and instructed you to lift your arms so you could wear your matching set.

Both of you undid the bed, he let you arrange your pillows to your need and only went back to pick his cell phone back up once you assured him you were comfortable. He handed you the remote, placed a bottle of water near you, and sat on his desk chair to continue whatever it was he was doing.

Your eyes grew heavy about 10 minutes into an episode of a show you started the past week. You had hoped you would hold on a little longer, maybe until Damian had to go.

"I will be back soon," Damian announced softly, prescription in his hand. "Do you want me to bring anything?"

"Some kind of dessert?"

He approached the bed. You braced yourself for a chastising reminder that you ate too much sugar sometimes. Damian leaned in and kissed your temple. "Take a nap, beloved, get some rest. I will wake you up when it's time for dinner."

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Some days, a dull ache woke you up, and trying to move became a whole odyssey. Breathing exercises worked well enough to give you the drive to try it again, but that didn’t mean you were always successful.

Others, you left the bed just fine just to find yourself needing to lay down an hour or so into your day.

Today, the sun was up in full, threading into the bedroom through the only slither left by the curtains. You had already texted your boss earlier to let them know you couldn’t go to work. You didn’t know if they had answered already or not.

You could hear pencil against paper, meaning Damian was sketching near the window.

“You’ll be late,” you reminded him.

He didn’t stop sketching as he answered, "I’m not going. My girlfriend is more important than a stupid meeting."

“Bruce—”

The mention of his father made him sigh, interrupting you. “He wishes for you to feel better soon.”

You grumbled. Both of them were as stubborn and you weren't about to waste your energy on fighting either of them right now.

“Do you want to change position?”

“I want to pee.”

Damian dropped the sketchbook and the pencil onto the sofa and walked toward the bed. Wordlessly, he helped you up and off the mattress.

You slowly made it to the bathroom, turning the light on just to be sure you wouldn't fall.

“Don’t close the door.”

“I know, Dami.”   You had been here many times before. He was always helpful, if not a little overbearing when it came to movement which you understood and often made things genuinely bearable.

Back on the bed, you drank water from your bottle.

Damian gave you that look that meant he wanted to say something yet knew it wasn't the time. You decided not to ask and laid down once again.

He handed you the remote in case you wanted to watch something, but the only thing you wanted was to sleep for a day or two.

Such an urge wasn't new, but you were kind enough to yourself not to ignore it when you could barely leave the bed.

"You should eat something."

There it was.

"Later," you pleaded.

You could almost hear him deflate. Still, Damian kissed your cheek and went back to the sofa, letting you try and get some sleep.

He would insist again later, no matter what you did, and you would probably get away with just having a smoothie. But you kept that to yourself, not only needing sleep out of tiredness but as a manner to pass the time.

Damian knew as much, he also knew there was nothing more he could do right now to help so he and his stubbornness focused on the sketch and only paused to watch you breathe.

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Panic coiled in Damian's stomach. Waking up to an empty bed at 5:00 in the morning was not only uncommon and worrisome, but one of his worst nightmares.

He always feared you would wander around the condo in the middle of the night only to fall asleep in an uncomfortable place or position, perhaps in pain, or both.

He padded his way along the hallway and checked the home office first. Your untouched desk, still donning the big water bottle he got you so you wouldn't use homework as an excuse for dehydration, wasn't as good of a sign as he hoped.

You weren't in any of the other bedrooms, nor the training room. He considered calling your parents, and as if you had visited them in the middle of the night; it wasn't insane to think you would miss your family. Yet his stomach sunk at the mere thought.

Had he done something wrong? Everything had been just fine before he left for patrol, you had even joked you would be awake waiting for him this time even though both of you knew you wouldn't last more than needed. He never expected such things from you, he didn't need them, a part of him didn't even want them because they would mean putting your health in jeopardy.

Damian found you in the kitchen. Sat on your stool, with your head tilted to the side and your mouth half-open, you read something on your phone.

He cleared his throat, but it didn't have its intended effect and you jumped. Your tired eyes bore into his and Damian almost sighed out of relief.

"Is something the matter?" he asked.

"It's Nicole's birthday."

He hummed. "You told me yesterday."

"I'm making her a cake. We have everything I need. Well, that's not true, but I can order everything else when the store opens and—" you interrupted yourself, frowning. You didn't like the way he was looking at you. "What?"

Inhaling deeply, he leaned his elbows on the island. Your eyes were on him and he would rather die than admit he was scared of upsetting you. He should have been past it, but he didn't know what to do sometimes. He couldn't simply forbid you from doing things, no matter how easy it might have made some situations in the long run.

"Wouldn't it be too extraneous?"

"Damian." Your 'are you fucking kidding me?' tone did nothing to placate him. "We have a stand mixer."

Right. The bulky ugly thing in the corner. He didn't mind having appliances on the countertops, no matter how bad they looked, it made things easier for you and that was all that mattered. He just specifically found the stand-mixer ugly.

"Just don't lift the bowl," he said, doing his best to not sound defeated. Your face lit up like a child who had just gotten just what they wanted for their birthday. "Call me when you're about to pour the batter. I'll do it."

Damian heard you opening and closing drawers and cupboards as he trained and although he paid more attention to the changing sounds than to what he was doing, he ended up drenched in sweat.

On his way to take a shower, he caught a snippet of the song you were humming as you moved around the kitchen and he could only hope your good spirit could last at least until noon.

The difficult parts never bothered him, nor doing the bulk of the work around the place. It wasn't like he did everything, the cleaning service came three times a week and you always left things as tidy as possible. But even if he had to do it all, he wouldn't be bothered.

He felt normal like this, useful. He liked doing things for you just like he had liked doing things for his mother when he was a child. Back then he thought that was what a man was supposed to do, protect, and provide to an extent. He didn't seek gender affirmation anymore, and he knew now he hadn't done anything for his mother out of a manly instinct; he simply loved her.

Much like he loved you albeit in a different way. Damian couldn't fathom himself without loving you, without being there for you. He had been born to fight and he had been reborn to care for you.

It wasn't always easy, he was the first to admit it. He didn't know what it was like to be in your shoes, he had no idea the kind of pain you were in or how heavy the fatigue you had to bear on your shoulders felt. He just hated that he couldn't take any of it away, that as much help as he could give, there should have been something more to do.

He grew tired sometimes. And you were oh so sweet about it, telling him to get some rest, pretending you didn't need help to get out of bed in the middle of the night just so he would go back to sleep. But Damian only slept well when you were comfortable, when things were normal to the standards you both had accorded.

At first, he had planned on being as strict as possible, to take care of everything so you wouldn't have to do anything. It didn't last. He couldn't live with the guilt that washed over him every time your face fell when he stopped you from doing something.

Learning to compromise had been the hardest thing he had done. And now here he was, about to bake a cake with you because it was your best friend's birthday.

He would do anything you asked him. It was a well-known fact about him. That meant indulging you sometimes, accepting things his brain told him weren't a good idea.

The loud stand-mixer greeted him back into the kitchen. You had a spatula in your hand, attention solely on the rotating flat beater.

"What were you going to do if I weren't here?"

You didn't speak until the mix was fully incorporated and the mixer was off. "Use a spoon."

"A spoon."

"Yes. Scoop little by little..."

He chuckled. "You are precious."

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"Take a break."

Damian had already walked away from you when you lifted your head to face the doorway. It wasn't an uncommon interaction. If you could call it as such.

Before you could even think to stand up, he was back with an unbreakable glass full of water. He set it on your desk, knowing full well you got nervous when people handed you things.

"I'm never finishing this," you sighed in frustration.

He stared at you, then at the glass. Once you picked the glass up and took a sip, he spoke, "Is it too difficult?"

"I can't focus. I'm not even halfway into the stupid paper, but I feel weird."

"Weird?"

"Like there's static in my head."

He nodded as though he understood. You both knew he didn't, not really.

"When is it due?"

"Monday."

You knew what he was thinking, 'What kind of professor would ever do that?' and the answer was quite simple: your least favorite professor.

Instead of asking anything about the awful faculty member of your college, he said, "We could do it this weekend."

"I'm not letting you do my homework."

"I have no intentions of doing your homework. I will help you focus, you will do it yourself."

"I had plans for our weekend."

He looked at you as though you had grown a second head. Plans weren't really a thing for both of you, not in the strict sense — a routine was needed, and medical appointments were non-negotiable, but apart from that, the mere idea of making plans was avoided.

"That movie you said looked interesting is on VOD. I thought we could watch it."

He visibly relaxed. Crisis averted. "We can watch it once your homework is done."

"You have things to do at night."

"Before patrol, beloved." Damian put his hand on your shoulder, leaning into your personal space to rest his head on top of yours as he continued making plans, "We will do your homework then take a nap, have lunch, watch the movie..."

You welcomed his touch, pressing your back to the chair just to have him a little closer. "Yeah?"

He hummed, nuzzling into your hair. "It will be a good weekend."

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Damian ignored your greeting as he crossed the bedroom to enter the bathroom. You heard the water running and decided to let it go, going back to the notes you had taken earlier. You had a note-taking system now, after many trials and errors, but that didn't mean things always stuck.

In all honesty, you were doing your best not to fall asleep. Between the sound of the water and the cozy blankets you were under, the words started to jumble. Your heavy eyes were begging to close and you almost gave in, but the bathroom door opened and Damian caught your attention again.

He sat on the bed, glanced at your notes, then turned to the side to put his phone to charge.

"Bad day?"

"Terrible."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." He laid on his back, facing the ceiling.

You couldn't help the sigh that escaped you. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Just be here."

You removed your notes from the bed. "I'm here."

He shifted to rest his head on your shoulder. The conversation was over. The awareness that came with living with him was different from anything you had experienced before, and his vulnerability was different than anyone else's.

You didn't think he was scared of it, not when it came to you, but he wasn't fond of it either. It wasn't difficult to see why. But you liked how it manifested, almost as second nature.

You almost cried the first time he swallowed his pride and admitted he couldn't understand what you were going through. He saw it, he paid attention to it, but he couldn't feel it. And it was so worth it, enough for you to understand truly what you meant to him.

If Damian was somebody else, or if he loved you any less, that would have been the first and the last time he admitted to not knowing everything.

You took his hand, bringing it close to your face. You kissed his bruised knuckles, careful not to move the bandage.

He sighed. Damian shuffled on the bed to lay on his side, head on your shoulder as he let you hold his hand for as long as you wanted.

Putting your free hand on the back of his head, you buried your fingers into his damp hair. He nuzzled into you, barely humming to assure you he was comfortable.

For the first time in your entire relationship, he fell asleep before you.

[nicoledoesstuff]

HEYAAA!! Sorrry Ya'll it's been a long time i haven't posted since these College things( A lot of assignment as always > ), So anyways just like as i was saying yesterday, or maybe very long day.

In a future world filled with numerous global challenges like inequality, corruption, environmental crises, social unrestan and all of the aspect **Mr. Peabody**, a genius dog with a time machine called WABAC, forms a bold plan to bring historical figures from the past to the present. Along with his friends—Sherman, his adopted human son, Toby the genius cat or partner bestfriend, kathrina, toby adopted human daughter and Kayleen, a bright young girl who has been appointed a "Junior President" by the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. She really active in many activities , she's make her own cartoon film business with her bestfriend. Mr. Peabody intends to address modern-day issues not only in indonesia but all around of world with help from the greatest minds and leaders from history.

Kayleen proposes an idea to Mr. Peabody: “What if we give historical figures a chance to return to life in the modern world? They could help us fix the world’s problems, and in return, they can learn from our era and perhaps even change their own historical paths for the better.” Like who knows if they all can help with this ways ?" Peabody agrees with the idea and mobilizes his company to perfect the WABAC machine. This allows historical figures to visit the modern world, help solve its crises, and return to their own times once their work is done.

From there, Kayleen is promoted to be the Director of Historical Integration of Mr. Peabody's project, heading up **TeamForthcoming**, a group created to make this vision a reality. The team's mission is to address pressing global issues such as poverty, gender inequality, lack of education, political instability, climate change, and human rights violations. This title reflects her crucial role in creating and designing the program that allows historical figures to travel back to modern times using the WABAC time machine. It also emphasizes her focus on the larger goals of world peace and the integration of all of team historical figures not only teamfourthcoming into the mission.

Kayleen, Sherman, and their friends Penny and Toby (Sherman’s best friend, a genius cat) form the foundation of TeamForthcoming. They enlist the help of historical figures such as **George Washington** (the team leader), **Ir. Soekarno** (the vice leader), **Abraham Lincoln**, **Albert Einstein**, **Marie Curie**, and many others to combat various global problems.

Among the **Notable Members of TeamForthcoming**:

- *George Washington (leader team)

- Ir Soekarno (vice leader team)

- Mohammad Hatta

- Sutan Syahrir

- Sudirman

- Alexander Hamilton

- Marques de Lafayatte

- Theodore Roosevelt

- Abraham Linclon

- Winston Churchill

- King George III

- Napoleon Bonaparte

- Maximillien de Robespierre

- Agamemnon

- Marie Antoinette

- King Tuthankhamun

- Grand Ay Vizier

- Monalisa

- Marie Curie

- Tapputi

- Susan B. Anthony(later)

- R.a Kartini(later)

- Amelia Earheart(later)

- Hellen Keller (later)

- Sigmund Freud

- Carl Gustav Jung

- Walt Disney

- Charlie Chaplin

- Harry Houdini

- Isaac Newton

- Antoine de lavoisiser

- Isaac Newton

- Albert Einstein

- Alan Turing

- Ada Lovelace(later)

- Nikola Tesla

- Thomas Alva Edison

- Henry Ford

-Charles Darwin

- Wright brothers

- Ludwig Van Beethoven

- Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart

- Hans Cristian Andersen

- Confucius

-Leonardo Davinci

- Albert Schwietzer

With **Robot Z3**, an advanced AI robot, added to the team, they are able to analyze data and offer technological support, making the team even more effective. Robot Z3 helps ensure that TeamForthcoming is equipped to handle the technical aspects of their missions.

**TeamForthcoming** not only focuses on solving global issues but also on educating the world through empathy, teamwork, cultural exchange, etc . Their first task is to revamp the global education system, starting with supporting orphaned children, both from the past and present. They believe that by involving these historical figures in modern-day issues, they can reshape the course of history for the better and guide humanity toward a more peaceful, prosperous future.

Not only teamfourthcoming i draw but i wanted plan to draw a lot of historical figures with the various of team. SEE U SOOn...

[sunflowersandsapphires]

Fall Drabbles, Day 1

prompt: Spiders

pairing: Frank Castle x fem!reader 

summary: Frank is not a fan of spiders.

warnings: swearing, sickly sweet fluff, descriptions of bugs (most bugs do not bother me so I don't think its super graphic but I could see people with fears/issues w spiders being grossed out so I'll warn you. Please let me know if its too much!)

a/n: I was in a really bad slump this week where I had the energy and time to write but none of my serieses (is that the right plural lol) were sparking joy. So I started writing some little pieces for Matty and Frank and I'm very excited to share them!

w/c: <1k words

Manhattan contained a variety of urban pests that Frank never had a problem with. Squishing roaches and chasing off rats came naturally after a lifetime in the city, and Frank never batted an eye. Flies, leeches, mosquitoes, Frank didn't have a problem with any of the traditionally abhorred creatures--except for one. Spiders.  

Frank blamed his extensive time overseas for his…intense dislike of spiders. He didn’t particularly like them before Afghanistan, but regularly seeing arachnids that are half a foot long or venomous enough to put a linebacker in the ER? It’ll put them on your shit list real quick. 

So yah, Frank was not a fan of spiders. But he didn’t readily volunteer this information after realizing that most of the population—his compassionate girlfriend included—found it amusing when hulking, grown-ass men had issues with bugs. The first time he’d seen a spider at your apartment, the thing had chased him on top of the coffee table as he let out a string of curses—a scenario that had humored you to the point of tears. 

“It’s just a wolf spider, Frankie. It’s not gonna hurt ya.” You’d giggled, scooping the damn thing into a cup and letting it out a window. Serves him right for having a soft spot for kind women, he ended up with a godforsaken spider saver. 

Thankfully, you had enough love for your boyfriend that you tended to rescue said eight-legged things before he ever spotted them. (Though, now that he thought about it, that could be for their benefit rather than his.) Regardless, it meant that his distrust of spiders went pretty much unnoticed…until fall rolled around.

New York was palatable in most seasons, and Frank was more than used to extreme temperatures, which meant the weather wasn't the reason he hated autumn so much. It was the goddamn bugs. Every year, without fail, those spindly hellspawn would take shelter in his apartment the moment the climate shifted. This year was no different, with Frank having to chuck his boots and random household objects at the creatures as they scuttled across his floor in an effort to stop them from laying eggs in his walls. If he didn't know better, he'd think they were taunting him. Maybe he should start mounting their heads on toothpicks along his front door.

Grumpily plotting their annihilation, he drained the rest of his shitty coffee before shoving his mug across the dark wooden table. His aversion to spiders wasn't so great that it regularly added to his insomnia, but waking up to a spider crawling over his pillow had been enough to force him out of bed for the night. 

Pushing his aching body away from the dining room table, he shuffled blearily to the couch, crumbling into a horizontal position and turning on the tv. The mindless cable channel allowed his mind to enter a state of hibernation, laying there like a corpse as dawn came and went. A sudden knock jolted him out of his daze. 

“Frankie?” Letting yourself into his tidy apartment, you tutted in sympathy when you saw him slumped on the couch. ”Here, I brought coffee.“

”'re we doin' somethin' today?“ Frank rasped, gratefully accepting the offered paper cup and taking a swig. 

You giggled. “You asked me to come over at 3 am. You said you wanted me to, and I quote, 'bring poison for the squatters that keep crawling into bed with you.' Thankfully, I am fluent in exhausted Frank because that could have been very alarming to wake up to otherwise.” Perching on the cushion his torso was on, you set a bag of assorted items on the floor. Threading a hand into his hair, you studied the purple tinge under his eyes. “Did you sleep at all, sugar?”

Shaking his head, Frank let his eyes fall closed as you kneaded at his scalp. “Sorry I texted ya, I don't remember doin' that.”

“Not a problem, pumpkin. Sounds like you might need some back up if the squatters have been causing so much trouble.”

“Meant spiders.” He groaned, gesturing in the direction of his front door. “Damn things are buildin' an army in here.”

You chuckled. “How about you take a nap while I handle the spiders, hmm?” 

Nodding tiredly, Frank shifted into a more comfortable position and llet his head thunk against the armrest. 

Rolling your eyes, you poked his shoulder. “I meant in bed, tough guy.”

Pretending not to hear you, Frank simply flipped over. Smirking at your exasperated grumble, he settled in for a nap. Before nodding off, his heart swelled with affection as you threw a blanket over his body and slid a pillow under his head. “Sleep well, sugar.”

As he slept, you diligently scoured the place for creepy crawlies, capturing them in the plastic box you'd brought before releasing them into the wilderness--spraying the borders of his door and windows with diluted peppermint oil to prevent their reappearance. Brushing your hands together with satisfaction, you curled up against your broad-shouldered boyfriend for a well earned mid-morning nap. 

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from The Revelator:

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Coastal beaches are dynamic systems. Wind, waves, and currents constantly move sand around, enlarging a beach here, narrowing one there. Storms make more drastic changes, sometimes washing away or depositing entire beaches.

When humans build houses, roads, hotels, and other structures on or near beaches, they put themselves in conflict with this dynamic nature. Communities trying to protect such infrastructure often employ a variety of methods to hold sand in place, including hard structures such as jetties and seawalls.

These don’t actually stop sand from moving, though. They just change where and how it does move, and they often enhance local erosion. Increasingly severe storms and sea-level rise caused by climate change are only making the problem worse.

Officials in many towns and cities have turned to another method: beach renourishment. This involves bringing in sand from elsewhere and adding it to eroded beaches. Beach nourishment only accounts for about 5% of the more than 55 billion tons of sand mined worldwide every year — a level of removal that threatens coastal ecosystems worldwide — but experts say its benefits are questionable and its potential for harm perhaps underestimated.

Since the first beach renourishment in New York in 1923, projects in 470 U.S. communities have used almost 1.7 billion cubic yards of sand, according to the National Beach Nourishment Database published by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

The practice is also common in Europe, with a 2021 study reporting that the Netherlands uses an average of 12 million cubic meters of sand for nourishment annually (a cubic meter is roughly the size of a pickup truck bed, slightly larger than a cubic yard). Germany uses 1.9 million cubic meters annually, Spain about 10 million cubic meters, and Denmark 2.5 million, compared to about 16 million in the United States.

Some experts point out that beach nourishment projects help protect coastal infrastructure and restore beaches for tourism and can replace or create wildlife habitat. The city of Galveston, Texas, for example, credits a 1985 project with a tourism revival there. Another project on the island resulted in buildup of dunes along the seawall that provided additional protection and wildlife habitat.

But experts also warn that collecting and depositing sand for beach renourishment can damage complex ecosystems. Underwater sand is habitat for seagrass and marine animals such as sea stars, sea cucumbers, and conchs, and feeding grounds for rays, fish such as flounders, and sharks.

[endlingmusings]

[ A northern spotted owl in Oregon, photo courtesy of Kyle Sullivan. ]

“In the U.S., where 90% of the population was historically found, the federal government listed northern spotted owls as threatened in 1990. Despite vocal opposition from loggers, lawmakers levied the Endangered Species Act and other legislation to shut down logging in vast tracts of the owls’ remaining habitat, virtually overnight.

But neither Canada nor the province of British Columbia had comparable legislation; despite listing the owls as endangered in 1986, the government allowed old-growth logging to continue apace.

By the early ’90s, the spotted owl population in British Columbia was down to fewer than 100 breeding pairs, a fifth of what the population had been before colonization. The province pulled together a recovery team, and in 1997 it implemented a management plan that, it claimed, had a 60% chance of stabilizing, and possibly improving, the population. Of the more than 350,000 hectares (865,000 acres) set aside for owls, some was in existing parks, and in much of the rest, logging was still allowed.

Meanwhile, the owl population in British Columbia continued to spiral to fewer than 30 breeding pairs by 2002, and three years later, to just 22 owls, including 6 breeding pairs.

By 2006, an independent panel of scientists decided captive breeding was necessary, and the province opened a northern spotted owl captive-breeding program, the first of its kind in the world. To date, conservationists have taken a total of 10 owls, as well as a number of eggs, from the wild for captive breeding. Though progress has been slower than hoped, the captive population is now approximately 30 owls.

Joe Foy, a campaigner with the Wilderness Committee who has been working on spotted owl conservation for more than 30 years, says the crux of the problem is that provincial governments gave forestry precedence over wildlife conservation. According to British Columbia’s Forest and Range Practices Act, timber was always the most important value of the forests, allowing provincial regulations to constrain the impact that habitat protection for wildlife could have on timber supply. That, Foy says, is why we “ended up with a broken forest, and this species almost gone.”

Hobart says the decline in owls is symptomatic of wider imbalances in the landscape. The owls are one of the species, he says, “that we consider to be the messengers from the forest, from the water, from the sky.”

Logging is not the only reason northern spotted owls are now a hair’s breadth away from extirpation in British Columbia. Invasive barred owls (Strix varia), which are native to eastern North America but have been moving westward, are also muscling out spotted owls, and more frequent and intense forest fires due to climate change are adding pressure.

But logging was undoubtedly the catalyst for their decline, and the destruction is also impacting other species. Southern mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) depend on lichen in old-growth forests for food in the winter. The marbeled murelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), an endangered seabird, needs old-growth trees for nesting — and these are still being cut down. A recent study showed that logging even impacts salmon.

The old trees also store incredible amounts of carbon in their massive trunks and root systems; preserving standing forests is considered one of the cheapest and simplest ways to fight climate change.

- Excerpt from “One left: British Columbia’s last chance on northern spotted owls” by Ruth Kamnitzer.

[phoenix-creates]

With the current climate. I think more people need to read the book 1984.

It’s an amazingly relevant dystopian novel about three superstates constantly at war. One of the key plot points of the world building is the fact that the superstates are only keeping up the war to keep their economies productive without adding to the wealth of their citizens, who live in a state of fear and poverty and are only guided by the rules the government put in place for them.

The main character, Winston, has a job where he’s literally rewriting history so that all information aligns with the Party’s ideologies. As the book goes on, Winston starts thinking that due to his job and others with similar careers, the government has been lying to the people because they know that if the “proles” (the name given to the ‘uneducated 85%’ of the population) knew that they had the power to fight and think for themselves, they could revolt and overthrow the government. It’s easier to control them by convincing them that freedom is an illusion that only leads to strife.

To keep up that illusion, the Party keeps its citizens under constant surveillance, monitors their thoughts, and getting rid of people who seem discontent or won’t conform.

Tr*mp has already announced that he’ll keep TikTok for the people of US investors own 50% of it. This is just the beginning. He’s literally trying to control the media. Just like how Twitter is now a right wing cesspool that shadow bans and restricts people’s ideologies, TikTok being owned by American investors is evolving in much of the same way. Trump and Congress will be able to control what we share and what information we take in.

With every post I see of people rightfully calling the TikTok ban the political stunt most of us know it was, I see three more post talking about how they’re just glad the app is back and unironically thanking the president. And that’s the problem. People aren’t thinking of the large scale ramifications this has. The ban was just a show of power. It was a ploy to show that all of the freedoms we enjoy can be taken away.

And you fell for it.

You voted for him. You praised him for bringing TikTok back. And you fell for it.

Read 1984. You won’t regret it.

[jcmarchi]

From Tweets to Calls: How AI is Transforming the Acoustic Study of Migratory Birds

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/from-tweets-to-calls-how-ai-is-transforming-the-acoustic-study-of-migratory-birds/

From Tweets to Calls: How AI is Transforming the Acoustic Study of Migratory Birds

Every year, billions of birds travel across continents and oceans. These journeys are not only fantastic to watch, but they are also essential for keeping nature in balance. Birds pollinate flowers, spread seeds, and help control pests, playing a big part in keeping our environment healthy. However, their survival is threatened by problems like losing their habitats, climate change, and expanding cities. Understanding how they travel and live has never been more critical.

Scientists used traditional methods to study bird migration in the past, but these were often slow and limited in how much they could tell us. Now, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing everything. By listening to bird calls and songs, AI tools are helping researchers understand where birds go, how many there are, and what they need to survive. This new technology is bringing powerful ways to protect and study the birds.

The Significance of Migratory Birds and Acoustic Monitoring

Migratory birds are vital to ecosystems worldwide. They act as indicators of environmental health, with changes in their migration patterns often showing more significant natural shifts. For example, North America’s declining numbers of barn swallows point to issues like habitat loss and insect population changes. Similarly, the Arctic Tern’s 40,000-kilometer migration helps scientists understand the health of polar and ocean ecosystems.

Listening to bird calls has become a keyway to studying these migrations. Each bird species has unique sounds, or acoustic fingerprints, that researchers can use to identify them without needing to see them. This is especially useful because most bird migrations happen at night. Scientists can learn about where birds go and how they behave by recording their flight calls.

However, sorting through vast amounts of recorded sounds was slow and difficult with traditional methods. AI has solved this problem by quickly analyzing audio data and identifying bird species with remarkable accuracy. This breakthrough has opened new ways to study migratory birds, making research faster, more detailed, and more effective.

AI-Powered Innovations in Acoustic Research

AI-powered tools like BirdVoxDetect and BirdNET have transformed how researchers study migratory birds through their calls. BirdVoxDetect developed through a collaboration between New York University, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and École Centrale de Nantes, shows how powerful machine learning can be in bird research. This tool uses a neural network to detect and classify nocturnal flight calls with impressive accuracy, even in noisy environments. It can filter out background sounds like car alarms and raindrops while isolating and identifying bird-specific calls. By 2024, BirdVoxDetect had analyzed more than 6,600 hours of audio recordings, identifying hundreds of thousands of bird calls. Its ability to estimate bird biomass is as practical as Doppler radar but with the added advantage of providing species-specific data at a much lower cost.

BirdNET is another significant tool designed for both researchers and bird enthusiasts. It allows users to record and identify bird calls using just their smartphones. During the Global Big Day in 2024, BirdNET helped participants identify over 900 bird species in real-time, demonstrating the scalability and inclusivity of AI in bird research. Powered by neural networks and extensive training datasets, BirdNET has made bird studies accessible to a global community, inspiring new conservation engagement levels.

These tools do more than just identify bird species. They also improve the accuracy of tracking migratory routes. For example, researchers studying Arctic Terns have used AI to find key stopover locations and understand the environmental factors that influence their journeys. This information is essential for conservation efforts because it helps protect critical habitats and ensures resources are used effectively.

How AI is Transforming Conservation Efforts

AI-powered tools are changing the way we protect birds and their habitats. Real-time monitoring systems help cities take steps like turning off building lights at night during migration seasons. These Lights Out programs have worked well in cities like Chicago, where fewer birds now collide with skyscrapers.

Tools like BirdVoxDetect can also adapt to different regions. With only a small amount of training data, they can identify bird species even in areas without traditional monitoring systems. This flexibility has allowed scientists to study birds in the Amazon rainforest and sub-Saharan Africa. By automating data collection and analysis, these tools save time and effort, making it easier to carry out large-scale studies. Open-source platforms like BirdVoxDetect allow researchers to share and improve these technologies worldwide.

Other tools are also significantly advancing how AI is used for bird conservation. Nighthawk, an advanced system built on BirdVox, provides faster results and is more straightforward to use. Researchers studying birds in areas like the Great Lakes have reported improved accuracy with this tool. Merlin, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, uses AI to assist both scientists and bird watchers identify species. Its mobile app has made bird studies more accessible, inspiring people worldwide to participate in conservation efforts.

New technologies, such as microphone arrays, are further improving bird research. These systems can determine a bird’s location by detecting its altitude and direction of flight. Institutions like the University of Windsor are among the leaders of these innovations, enhancing our ability to monitor bird migrations.

Scientists are also working on foundation models for bioacoustics. These models are designed to study various species and ecosystems, beyond birds to animals like bats and whales. With these tools, researchers aim to deepen our understanding of biodiversity and develop better strategies for its protection.

AI is making bird conservation more efficient and effective. It is helping us gather essential insights to protect migratory species and ensure survival amidst rapid ecological changes.

The Bottom Lin

AI is revolutionizing the study and conservation of migratory birds, providing powerful tools that enhance our understanding of their behaviors and habitats. By automating the analysis of bird calls and migration patterns, technologies like BirdVoxDetect and BirdNET are making it easier for researchers and enthusiasts alike to engage in conservation efforts. These innovations improve the accuracy of tracking migratory routes and facilitate real-time monitoring, enabling cities to implement effective strategies like “Lights Out” programs to reduce bird collisions with buildings.

AI is creating new ways to protect these critical species and their habitats. This ensures that future generations can enjoy the amazing journeys of birds around the world. It also helps build a stronger connection with nature and supports efforts to preserve it.